Brickhouse Lane, Tamworth, B79

THE PROPERTY

TENURE: FREEHOLD

EPC Rating: Awaiting Report  **  Council Tax Band: E

Introduction, Exterior & Garage

This beautiful barn conversion in rural Staffordshire will be of high interest to those seeking a peaceful home in the countryside. Dating back over two-hundred years, the barn was converted back in 2002 and has had one owner (the current owner) since conversion. The cottage is part of the exclusive Elford Park Farm estate, found north of the village of Elford via Brickhouse Lane. Arriving at Elford Park, visitors drive through a meadow to the complex where there is an open gravel area with a row of four garages.

The garage for this home is the second from the right and has double opening doors to the front. Inside is a long single space with a mezzanine storage area within the pitched roof.

In front and to the left of the garage block is gated access to a lovely communal garden where the subject property, Howard Cottage, is positioned ahead and to the right at the far end. To the left of entrance doorway to the cottage is a secure gated passage leading round to the rear garden.

Viewers’ attention will be immediately drawn to the stunning lake at the rear of the property, which is also known as ‘the old moat’, as originally there was a moat surrounding the farm. The garden is low maintenance and features flagstone patio and wooden decking sections to be able to position a range of outdoor furniture. Wildlife watchers. Will be delighted as the lake attracts Swans, Moorhen and Heron amongst many other birds, with Koi Carp and Red Rudd swimming within.

Utilities

Being so rural, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that the property isn’t connected to mains gas or drainage. The gas supply is LPG and is supplied to Elford Park by FloGas to a central tank from which each property is metered and therefore you only pay for what you use. The drainage is via a Klargester Septic Tank which is maintained by the estate management (see below).

Management Cost

As with many private complexes, Elford Park is ran by a management company that maintains the communal grounds and pathways, including the Klargester. The current charge is £65 per calendar month.

Interior – Reception Rooms & Kitchen

Guests enter the home via the solid wooden front door into an open hallway that is both welcoming and offers plenty of room to remove coats and shoes. Two closets are available to the left with one housing the gas central heating Worcester combi-boiler. Above these closets viewers may spot a curtained mezzanine area that offers further internal storage. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot a ladder hooked to the wall in the dining hall on the photos which is used to access this mezzanine.

The hallway opens to the dining hall which is simply breathtaking with a high vaulted ceiling boasting the exposed beams. The dining hall has plenty of room for a large family dining table and has been the site of many family gatherings over the years. A ‘rainbow staircase’ leads from the dining hall up to the first floor. It is named so as the current owner designed each step to have a pastel colour to follow the shades of the rainbow, a delightful touch.

An opening to the left of the room leads into an attractive fitted kitchen that has soft green facias. Integrated appliances within the kitchen include a dishwasher, refrigerator, oven & grill, four-ring electric hob, and a washing machine. Suspended above the kitchen is a Sheila Maid clothes airer. A window seat to the far end of the kitchen offers place to relax with a coffee and newspaper.

Another wide opening from the dining hall opens to a large lounge that offers a gorgeous place for the family to relax and has views through the window to the lake. The main focal point at the rear wall is the log-burner effect gas fireplace which will remain as part of the sale. Also remaining is a bespoke designed furniture unit at the front of the room. A set of French doors open out to the flagstone patio.

Interior – Bedrooms & Bathrooms

Underneath the staircase to the right of the dining hall is a corridor through to the two ground floor bedrooms and the family bathroom. The bedrooms on this level comprise of a double master room and a generous single that is currently used as a home office and features a secluded upper level storage cupboard. The master bedroom includes a dressing room, en suite shower room and a further fitted wardrobe.

The en suite includes a curved shower unit supported by a bidet, toilet and pedestal wash basin. The family bathroom is a similar size to the en suite. It comprises of a long bathtub, pedestal wash basin and a toilet. Both suites feature a skylight window above to allow natural light.

The final bedroom is located on the first floor and has the floor size of a double bedroom with restricted height to the sides as it is built into the roof. The exposed beams are again a prominent feature, and the natural light is brought in by a skylight at the front of the room. Either side of the entrance to the room are handy storage closets.

NB - ROOM SIZES ARE SHOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

IMPORTANT - RIGHT OF WAY

The neighbouring property to the right has a right for reasonable access through the rear garden to exit down the left side of the property. This would be for garden waste more than anything and the owner tells me that the neighbours rarely take advantage of this. 

TRANSPORT LINKS

The cottage is around a ten-minute drive from the A38 dual carriageway which leads south toward Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield & Birmingham and north toward Burton upon Trent & Derby. Travelling through nearby villages using various rural routes will lead the new owners to Tamworth, Swadlincote and also the M42 junction 10 which provides good access to Birmingham, Nottingham & Ashby de la Zouch with the A444 leading from the same junction giving access to Nuneaton & Atherstone.

The nearest train station to this home is Tamworth station has split level platforms offering services to London Euston (West Coast Main Line), and between Birmingham New Street and Nottingham (Cross Country Line). Lichfield Trent Valley Station also has split level platforms offering services to all major UK destinations including Birmingham New Street and Sutton Coldfield (Cross City Line), whilst also being part of the West Coast Main Line.

SCHOOLS & AMENITIES

The catchment secondary school is the highly regarded Rawlett School in Tamworth, for which there is a school bus service which departs from the village. The primary catchment is The Howard School in Elford, a lovely and traditional village primary school

Amenities wise, the Church of St Peter is located in the centre of the village along with the Crown public house and the beautiful Walled Garden that is open to visitors since being opened by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Countess of Wessex) in 2011.

The nearest convenience stores are found in nearby Whittington, Alrewas and Coton Green. Alrewas is particularly convenient as it is near the A38 and has a Co-operative convenience store, café, butchers, fish & chip shop, and petrol station amongst other local businesses. The nearest supermarkets are found in Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton on Trent which are all between ten and twenty minutes away.

ROOM SIZES

Lounge: 18’0 x 14’3

Kitchen: 12’0 (maximum) x 9’2

Dining Hall: 18’2 x 10’3 (plus stairwell)

Master Bedroom: 12’10 x 11’5

En Suite Shower Room: 8’6 x 6’4

Bedroom Two (First Floor): 11’1 x 11’8 (ground level), 5’0 (between beams)

Bedroom Three: 8’5 x 7’0

Family Bathroom: 8’8 x 6’4

Garage: 17’4 x 7’10

Disclaimer

Whilst we make enquiries with the Seller to ensure the information provided is accurate, Yopa makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the statements contained in the particulars which should not be relied upon as representations of fact. All representations contained in the particulars are based on details supplied by the Seller. Your Conveyancer is legally responsible for ensuring any purchase agreement fully protects your position. Please inform us if you become aware of any information being inaccurate.

Money Laundering Regulations

Should a purchaser(s) have an offer accepted on a property marketed by Yopa, they will need to undertake an identification check and asked to provide information on the source and proof of funds. This is done to meet our obligation under Anti Money Laundering Regulations (AML) and is a legal requirement. We use a specialist third party service together with an in-house compliance team to verify your information. The cost of these checks is £82.50 +VAT per purchase, which is paid in advance, when an offer is agreed and prior to a sales memorandum being issued. This charge is non-refundable under any circumstances.